Apparatus for measuring the inclination of bore-holes and making a photographic record thereof.



, H. M. SMITT. APPARATUS FOR MEA-SURING THB INGLINATION OF BORR HOLES AND MAKING A PHOTOGRAPHIG RECORD THERBOF.

H. M. SMITT. APPARATUS POR MEASURING THE INOLINATION OP BORR HOLES AND MAKING A PHOTOGRAPHIO RECORD THERBOF. APPLICATION FILED SEP1H24, 19134.

1,124,068, Patented JaIL, 1915.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

*WMOOOOOO 55mm/COO UMTED STATES 'PATENT onirica.

HERMANUS MATTHEUS SMITT, OF UTRECHT, NETHERLANDS.

.APPARATUS FOR MEASURING THE I-NGLINA'IIN' OE 13ORIEFIOLES` AND MAKING A PHOTOGRAPHIC RECORD .THEREOIEX Lifzaoes.

Specification of Letters Patent'.

Patented J an. 5, i915.

V Application led September 24, 1913.- xSerial No. 791,598.

To all whom it may concern.'

Be it known that I, HERMANUS MAT- THnUs SMITT, a subject ofthe Queen of the Netherlands, residing at Utrecht, Kingdom of the Netherlands, have ,invented certain new and useful Improvements in Apparatus for Measuring the Inclination of Bore- Holes and Making a Photographic' Record rIhereof, of which the following is a specification. y

rThis invention relates to a device for measuring the inclination -of bore-holes, more particularly for ascertaining the position in spare of bore-holes used for the making of freezing shafts, valthough the apparatus can'lbe used also for other boreholes. f

In the construction of V the apparatus according to this invention,

the drawback of vusing magnets has been more particularly avoided. As 1s well known, magnets arel very considerably mfluenced by the iron masses contained near the bore-holes as well as by the magnetism of the earth and ironknown constructional containing rocks. TheI use of -magnets is avoided in thepapparatus according to this invention and the ,gyroscopic' action `of a rotating mass is utilized instead.

The construction of the apparatus differs in many respects from that of 'well known apparatus for the same purpose A(stratameters or clinographs), although certain well details are employed. The. apparatus consists of a tube of a somewhat smaller diameter than that of the bore-holeto be controlled. -This tube is eX- actly centered by means of spring-con trolled rollers and forms the casing of the apparatus proper which is introduced into the vsame and secured therein, care being taken to close the apparatus in a. thoroughly water-tight manner.

The action of the apparatus is based on ascertaining the positions of the Aair bubble of a box-level, in combination with a scale .of degrees, which scale in all circumstances retai'nsthe position -once assumed. In case y of theinclination of the apparatus, the scale may also be inclined, but'it must-not turn. This is effected by means of a ring-onwhich the scale is mounted, the said ring being rotatable spindle arranged in the longitudinal direction of the' apparatus. This spindle is provided with a ring within which is trunnponed a second ring carrying within chiefly owing which can rapidly rotate. rIhe aXis of the fly whveel is at right angles to that of the trunnions of its carrying ring, and these trunnions are. atk right angles to theaXis of the spindle which carries the scale. .'It will be seen that this gyroscopic arrangement -in itself well known avoids a rotation of the scale-carrying ring even when the apparatus itself is rotated. The above mentioned ring is arranged about a box level secured in the apparatus, so that the it a sinall fly wheel ,I

photograph of the level obtained in the manner in itself well known, shows at the same time the scale division. The position in space of the bore hole can be ascertained from the pictures obtained during the lowering of the apparatus to'known depths, as will be subsequently explained.

The pictures of the box level with the scale divisions illuminated in the well known manner by means of electric lamps, are` photographed on a film and afterward developed to a negative picture. Although the recording of the position of the 'air bubble by photographic methods on a film roller must beA considered as being in itself well known, the apparatus according to this invention is constructed in such a manner as toinsure considerable advantages even in this respect over the well known apparatus.

The manipulation of the apparatus accordingto this invention is exceedingly simple, to-thevfact that the turning of a simple switch .is sufficient for obtaining a picture, while during a subsequent operation of the same switch, another picture is obtained direct.

A .construction of the apparatus according to this invention is illustrated by way of example'in the accompanying drawings in which, Y

Figure `1 is a Vertical section through the apparatus. Fig. 2 a vertical section through the inner portion of the apparatus on an enlarged-scale. Fig. 3 an elevation of the film arrangement. Fig. 4 an elevation of a de'- vice for regulating the unwinding of the film, and' Fig.- 5 shows one of the pictures Thev apparatus consists of an outer casing l, the bottom end of which can be screwed on, and an inner part which contains the more/important parts of the apparatus. The diameter of the outerecasing of the .but is easily adjustable. At the end of the bolt is mounted a blockf to which three or more links 6 are pivoted in such manner that they can swing radially outward. The

ends of the said links are pivoted to bell crank levers 8 rotatableJ about pins 7 and carrying rotatable rollers 9. The spring l0 tends to drive the bolt 4 downward and therefore move the rollers outward, so that the -latter engage with the inner wall of the bore-holetube: It will be seen that this arrangement always insures an exact centering of the apparatus, as each roller 9 must be at the same distance from the axis of the apparatus.

The inner portion of the apparatus containing the more important mechanisms, is introduced into the outer casing and lits it exactly. T he securing of this portion in the casing is effected by means of spring-controlled pawls'ill. rlhey are arranged at the bottom of the inner cylindrical portion of the apparatus and constructed as follows The locking pawls 11 are rotatably mounted on a bottom Imember 12 and forced upward by springs 13. During the introduction of the inner portion of the apparatus, the pawls are pressed inward ,and they engage with recesses or an annular recess in the inner wall of the casing 2, as soon as the inner portion has been pushed suiiiciently far inward. For the purpose of unloclfringl these pawls, in the center of the member 12 is arranged a screw 14 which can be screwed against the ends 15, whereby the .pawls 11 are caused to release themselves from the recess and disengag'e the pushed-in inner portion of the apparatus. y

For the purpose of closing in a tight manner the sleeve or casing 1, disks 16 and 18,

- the latter of which is made of packing material, are screwed by means of the nut 19, under the inner portion of the apparatus into the lwidened portion 17 providedl` with an inner screw-thread. By turning the screw 20 arranged in the nut 19, the disk 18 Y is pressed `firmly, so that a good closing is obtained.V The greater lthe pressure of water l the better will be the closing.

Above the inner portion of the apparatus the casing is closed in an' air-tight manner by a fixed plate 21, so that the inner portion is closed in a thoroughly reliable manner against moisture. As will be subsequently explained, two electric circuits arerequired for working the apparatus. The current is supplied by means of two insulated wires carried along thesuspension cable and in- 'apparatus is used as the return.

The inner portion of the apparatus which, as already stated, contains the more important mechanism, `consists Iof a cylindrical tube 24 closed at the upper edge by a cover 25 receiving the plug contacts 23. Under the said cover Vis arranged a driving gear 26- tending 'to rotate, in the direction of the arrow (Fig. 4), the roller 27 on which is Vwound the lm. The lm wound on the roller 28 is guided over two smaller rollers 29, 30 to the roller 27, in such a manner that the portion of the .film between the rollers 29 and 30 is at right angles to the axisof the lens 31 placed below. ln order that after each illumination that is to say, after each photographing of a picture, the ilm should be rotated farther to a ysuitable extent, the

following brake device is provided for the roller 28.,

On the lateral disk of Vthe roller 28 is arranged one, or according to the diameter of the roller more pairs'of stops 32 and 33, or 32 and 33', in suchv a manner that the stops 32 or 32 are not arranged exactly on the same radius drawn from the center of the lateral disk, as the stops 33 or 33. Below the roller 28 is arranged anvelectromagnet 34, the .spring-controlled armature 35 of which is provided with a projecting arm 36. When the armature is not attracted, the end of the arm 36 rests against the stop 32 (as shown in full lines in Fig. '4),' so that the film cannot be wound up. lf the electromagnet 34 is energized by a current coming from a source of electricity not shown in the drawing and carried along the suspension cable to the plug contact and passing through the wire 37 shown in Fig. 2 and carried farther from the plug vcontact through the electromagnet and through the electric lamps 38 arranged below the lens 31, to earth, the armature 35 will be attracted,

and the end of the arm will engage under pff, for which purpose a switch is provided 1n the conductor on the surface of the earth,

the lamps are extinguished, and the arma- .necting the vtain exactly the same direction,

-. of the lens,

spindle, motor and iy wheel is .ing from a separate plug spindle 45, the bearing ture springs back, the end of the arm striklng the side of the stop 32 situated a little lower as shown dotted in the intermediate position in Fig. 4. The roller 28 is therefore not braked duringthat movement, and consequently continues to rotate until the next stop, for instance 32, strikes the end of the arm. This-turns the film to a certain extent, so that the apparatus is-readyfor taking another photograph. .It is therefore Sullicient simply to switch on the current for a short time inorder to takea photograph.

Below the electric lamps 38 is arranged a box level 40, the axis of which', like the axis p is arranged in the central axis of the tube 24. The box level is secured ,in the tube 24 3) the said arms carrying a sleeve 42 in which the box level 40 is adjustably mounted by means of set screws 43. At the bottom of the -sleeve 42 isv arranged a pin 44 on which rests the point of the spindle 45. This spindle 45, and a pivot 46 supported in the fixed disk 66, carry a ring 47 in such Aa manner that the axis of the spindle and .of thepivot working in the fixed bearing 48l are situated in the vaxis of the apparatus, while the center line ofthe ring is also situated in the said axis. J

j In the ring'47 is'rotatably mounted a'secl ondring 49, in such manner .that the line .connecting the two short pins about which is normal to the axis the ring 49 rotates, of the spindle'45 and of the pivot 46. The ring 49 can therefore rotate in the ring 47. In the ring 49 is arranged a spindlev 50 which is at a right angle to the line-conshort pins of thering`49. This spindle carries the armature and the collector ofla a ily wheel 51. Thusthe mounting of the after the manner of a gyroscope. The magnetic poles of the motor are arranged in. the ring 49,

while the current is supplied by a wire Acomcontact 67, to the 'sulated from the sleeve 42.-v From the spindle V the current is carried in a suitable manner to the magnet pole windings, .to the brushes of the motor and, through the armature, to earth. To that end, insulating material is inserted at suitable points. It will be seen that when the motor rotates, the ily wheel" will remain in its "plane of rotation, and therefore the spindle 50 will always yreeven when the apparatus is in an oblique position. The consequence of this is that the ring 47 will always remain in exactly the same plane, even though the apparatus itselfbe turned. When the apparatus is in an oblique position, the. ring 47 will however also assume an oblique position with the apparatus.

On theJ pivot 46, or on the ring 47, is

by means of the arms 41 (Fig.

small electricmotor, as well as 44 of `which is inmounted a disk 52, the outer circumference of which is provided with divisions from 0-3600. On the spindle 45 is also mounteda disk 53 which by means of arms 54, supports a ring 55.' This 'ring 55 is provided with divisions from 0-360 in the same way as the ,disk 5l, the said divisions seen fromA the top, graduations are arranged in' such manner that when the apparatus is in the vertical position, the graduation lines of the same numberare situated vertically above each. other. By the action of the ly wheel. 51, the radial graduation lines of the ring 55 will always continually point in the same direction of compass, even if the apparatus itself is turned or placed obliquely. y

For the purpose of ascertaining the exact -position of .the graduations ofthe disk 52, and therefore also of the graduations of the ring 55, a holder (Fig. 2) of the following vconstruction is employed The arm 56 of the holder to be adjusted, is provided with a bracket 57 on which can 24 containing the inner portion of the apparatus, after it has been pushed through a ring 58. ,By means of set screws 60 arranged in thefoot of the holder, the axis of the apparatus can be placed in the vertical position.l With the assistance of a viewer 61 provided with cross-threads and arranged onfthe arm 56, the position of the scale can be observed on the disk 52.' The scale of the ring 55 is then in the same position as that observed. For adjusting or turning the apparatus, a toothed appearing around the box level. The

be piaced the tube plate 62 on which the aptated by means of a worm provided with aA crank handle 63.

The method of operation is as follows z- First of all, the inner portion of the apparatus inclosed in the tube 24, is vertically adjusted in the holder. One pole of a source of electricity is then connected to the apparatus in such manner as to supply the current to the motor. The second pole of the source of electricity is connected to eartl. The motor then starts, the position of the scale'on the disk 52 being observed. This portion ofthe apparatus is thenremoved from the holder and introduced into the tube 1 of the apparatus after having placed the plug contact 23 into the portion ofthe apparatus made to receive it. The appara: tus is then closed in by means of -the described parts 16, 18, 19 and 20, whereupon the bottom end 2 of the apparatus is screwed on (Fig. 1'). J The apparatus is then placed into the freezing tube or bore-hole without breaking the circuit a water-tight manner lcuit is completed for a short time, the box level and the scale divisions of the ring being thus illuminated. rThe lens 31projects then an 'image of the box level and of the scale graduations on to the ilm 63 which, after development, shows pictures such as that illustrated in Fig. 5. The scale divisions on the ring 55 always remaining, as already stated, in the same direction, while the air bubble deviates from the central position when the apparatus is in an oblique position, the position of the freezing tube or the bore-hole can be exactly ascertained by means of the photographs. 0n the box level are drawn concentric circles 64 which are at such a distance from each other that when the air bubble is situated exactly under the second small circle calculating from the center, the inclination of the apparatus is a given one, for instance 0.2% Jfrom the vertical position. .y

l a line 65 is drawn through the center of the box level and through the center of the air bubble, the said line will pass through a given portionof the scalev division, namely for instance as shown in Fig. 5 through the line marked 131. According to Fig. 5 (in which the air bubble is on the inner circle 64) the inclination of the apparatus, as well as of the freezing tube is 0.2% .in the direction of the graduation 131, that is to say, the bottom portion of the apparatus has deviated in this direction. By drawingvthe consecutive inclinations ot the apparatus, the exact position ofthe freezing tube can be easilyv ascertained.

For the purposes of control, after the ap- .y paratus has been withdrawn from the rfreezing tube, the inner portion-of the "apparatus inclosed in the tube 24 can beV again placed in the holder, in order to ascertain-.whether the disk 52 or the ring 55 have turned.

claim as my inventionz- 1. An apparatus -for measuring the inclination of bore-holes in which the inclination of the hole is ascertained on an advancing photographic lm by `means of photographs produced in the apparatus itself, of a boxflevel, characterized by thev device for measuring the inclination of the bore hole.

being constituted by a centering casing into which the apparatus proper (the inner portion) is inserted in a water-tight manner,

l the apparatus proper containing 1n the Jfollowing sequence starting from thetop a driving device for the lm, a locking device for the film, a photographic lens, illuminat.

ing lamps, the box level and a device for holding fast a graduated ring arranged around the box level in such. a manner Vthat the ring inclines ,with the apparatus, but

always retains the position once assumed, iny dependently of any rotation of the apparatus or of the influence of the iron parts situated in proximity to the apparatus, orY of magnetic influences.

2. ln apparatus for measuring the'inclination ofboreholes, the combination of a suitablev casing adapted to be lowered into the bore hole, a box level therein having means for illuminating it, means coperative with the' level for preventing rotation thereof irrespective of rotation of the casing, and means within the casing for photographing the level.

3. In apparatus for measuring the inclination or bore holes, the combination of a suitable casing adapted to be lowered into the bore hole, a box level therein having means for illuminating it, means coperativ'e with the level for preventing rotation thereof irrespective of rotation of the casing, a

suitable casing adapted to be lowered into the bore hole, a box level therein having means for illuminating it, a gyroscope operative to prevent rotation of the level irrespective of rotation of the casing, and means for photographing the level.

5. 1n apparatus for measuring the inclination` of bore holes, the combination of a suitable casing, a boxlevel therein having means for illuminating it, a graduated dial coperative with the level, a gyroscope operative to prevent rotation of the level and dial, and means for photographing the level and dial.

6. In apparatus for measuring the inclination of bore holes, the cornbinationV of a suitable casing adapted to be lowered into the bore hole, a box level'having means for illuminating it, means for producing photographs -of the level including a film and means foradvancing zit, and film-controlling means including an escapement operative to cause advancement of the lm one step at each operation thereof.

7 In a machine Yfor Vmeasuring the inclilao means coperative with saidstopsjto cause the lm to advance one step for eachactuation thereof.

8. In apparatus for'measuring the inclination of bore holes, the combination 'of a suitable'casing adapted to .be lowered into the bore hole, a'box level having means .for illuminating it, means for producing pho- I nation of bore holes,

tographs of the level including a lm, means tending to advance the lm to make successive exposures thereon, illuminating means for the level, and means controlling the illuminating means and the lm-advancing means.

9. In apparatus for measuring the inclithe combination of an A outer casing adapted to be lowered into the bore hole and provided with means for centering the same therein, of an inner casing containing mechanism for measuring the inclination of the bore hole, said inner casing being adapted for insertion into the outer casing and having pavvls pivoted thereon, springs tending to force said pawls outwardly into engagement with the outer casing, and meansl operative on the pawls to retract them from engagement with the outer casing.

10. In an apparatus of the class described, the -combination of an outer to belowered into a bore hole and having means for centering the same therein, an inner casing containing mechanism for measuring the inclination of the bore hole, and means for producing a. water-tight seal between they outer and inner casings comprising a pacldng disk, and a screw acting thereon to compressv the close the respective end of the outer casing.

p ll. In a machine of the class described,

the combination of a suitable casing adapted to be lowered into the bore hole, a box level having means .for illuminating it, and means for producing photographs of the level including a ilm, winding and unwinding rollers coperative with the respective ends of the film, means coperative with the film-winding roller :and tending to ad- Vance the film, a controlling disk connected to the lm-unwinding roller and provided with a pair. of stops arranged at different' casing adaptedl same and thereby levels thereon, a controlling arm normally engaging the stop at the lower level, and an electro-magnet coperative with said arm to engage it from thestop at the lower level and to move it into the path of the stop at thehigher level, said controlling arm being adapted to pass between the stops and thus permit rotation of the disk to advance the lm one step for each photograph.

l2. In a machine of the class described, the combination of a suitable casing adapted to be lowered into the bore hole, a level in the casing for indicating the inclination of the bore hole, and means for photographing the level comprising a circular series of electric lamps arranged concentrically before the level, and means for conducting current to said lamps to illuminate the same at intervals to produce successive exposures.

13. In a device for measuring the inclination of bore holes, the combination of an outer casing adapted to be lowered into the bore hole and having means for centering the same therein, an inner casing within the outer casing, a box level in the inner casing having means for maintaining the same in a constant direction irrespective of rotation of the casing on its axis, a dial co'iperative with the level, means for photographing the level and dial, and a second dial corresponding to the dial iirst mentioned and maintained in constant relation therewith, the second dial being visible from a side of the inner casing when the latter is removed from the outer casing.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in presence of two subscribing witnesses.

K IIERMANUS MATTHEUS SlillTT.

Witnesses:

- V'IHoivrra H. VERHAvE,

P. HILDERING. 

